Cuadrilla is backed by former BP boss Lord Browne of MadingleyAlex Lentati / Rex Features

Tim Webb

Last updated at 10:48AM, November 2 2011

The controversial gas extraction technique known as “fracking” was the “highly
probable” cause of earth tremors along Lancashire’s Fylde coast earlier this
year, a report has concluded.

Independent experts said that a tremor of 2.3 magnitude on April 1 and one of
1.4 magnitude on May 27 were almost certainly due to fracking by oil and gas
firm Cuadrilla Resources at its Preese Hall-1 well in Lancashire.

But it added that this was due to a rare combination of circumstances and was
unlikely to happen again.

Their report was published at 9am today, hours after protesters from the
environmental campaign